Adding-machine.



No. sa|,292.

Patented Aug. 27, I90l. A R BALL ADDING IACI'IIIE. (Appliutinnflbdlly a1, 1001. (In Iodal.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFICE.

ARTHUR R. BALL, OF MELVERN, KANSAS.

ADDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,292, dated August 27, 1901.

Application filed May 27, 1901- Serial No. 62,003. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR R. BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Melvern, in the county of Osage and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to adding-machines; and my object is to produce a machine of this character which is efficient, reliable, and exceedingly rapid in operation and which is of simple, strong, durable, compact, and cheap construction.

With this object in view'the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of an adding-machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central Vertical section taken on the line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the traveling indicator for registering hundreds.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like reference characters identify corresponding parts, A designates a circular case of shallow depth and provided, preferably, with a wood bottom B and a sheet-metal top or face plate 0. The face-plate is provided parallel with its edge with a slot D and a contiguous column of equidistant figures running consecutively from l to 9 or any higher number, the numeral l appearing the same distance from the lower end of the slot as it is from the numeral 2. The faceplate is also provided with a radial slot E and a parallel series of numbers extending from 0 to 9, inclusive, arranged equidistantly these numbers, being adapted to indicate hu ndreds, as will hereinafter appear.

F designates a vertical shaft extending centrally through the top plate and step-journaled, as at G, in the bottom of the case, a hand-wheel or disk H being mounted on its upper end, for a purpose which hereinafter appears.

I designates a key rigidly uniting to shaft F the ratchet-wheel J, operating just below the face-plate and having the upper portion of its hub journaled therein, as shown in Fig. 2, and therefore affording a bearing for the upper portion of shaft F. Journaled upon said shaft below the ratchet-wheel is a counting-wheel K, the same being provided with a pivoted dog L, held yieldingly in engagement by spring M with the ratchet-wheel J, the arrangement being such that the rotation of said disk in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 1, causes the synchronous operation of the shaft in the same direction, the latter being free to turn in the opposite direction independently of the disk because of the fact that the spring-actuated pawl slips inoperatively over the ratchet-teeth. said counting-wheel K shall possess the requisite rigidity and stability, the upper or disk portion is reinforced by a lower portion or ring N of the same diameter and the interposed ring 0, the latter being preferably of wood and also of less diameter than portion K and N, though not necessarily so. Outward of the wood portion 0 the wheel is provided with a circular series of holes or perforations P, and it is preferred that said perforations shall extend through portion N as well as K, and outward of said perforations portion K is provided with a circular strip Q, on which appear figures arranged consecutively from 0 to any desired number, though for ordinary use from 0 to 99, inclusive, will be sufiicient. In this connec tion it is to be understood, of course, that the numbered strip Q is not indispensable, as the figures may be stamped, painted, or otherwise affixed directly to the upper face of the wheel. The former construction, however, is preferred.

For the purpose of automatically rotating the counting-wheel when resistance is removed from its path a coiled spring R is employed, the same being interposed between the bottom of the case and the wheel and pro jecting into the ring portion N and O of the latter, the inner end of the spring being secured rigidly to the shaft in the usual or any preferred manner and the outer end attached to a pin or projection S.

To operate once in each complete revolution of the counting-wheel of the capacity herein shown and therefore register each hundred, a traveling indicator T occupies the ra- In order that dial slot E of the top or face plate and is ,provided at one side with a pointer U to successively point to the figures appearing upon the face-plate parallel to said slot, and the indicator is also provided with an upwardly-projecting arm V, whereby it is conveniently returned by hand to its original position or starting-point. The indicator is provided with adepending longitudinal series of teeth, com

prising a rack-bar W, and with longitudinal grooves X in its opposite sides,engaged by the edges of the slotE, so as to prevent the indicator movingin any but a longitudinal direction and, furthermore,to afford sufficientfric-- tional resistance to prevent it moving under vibratory or any otheraction of the machine except that imposed by positive pressuresuch, for instance, as bythe cam Y, said cam being provided with a tail Z concentric of the axis of movement. The cam is secured to the upper side of the counting-wheel, (see Fig. 1,) the arrangement being such, that once in each revolution the cam passes between two teeth of the rack-bar, and therefore advances the latter one step and causes it to register an additional hundred. The cam is of such diameter that it advances the traveling indicator one step at the same instant that numeral 99 on the counting-wheel passes from view through slot W and is succeeded in said slot by 0. It being obvious that the movement of said indicator is rapid, it is equally obvious that the impetus given the indicator would vary at times and therefore fail to move it just exactly the right distance each time unless such movement was positively terminated, and for arresting the indicator at the proper time I have provided the cam with the concentric tail, as hereinbefore described.

In the practical operation of the machine, assuming that the parts are as shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen by reference to the outer end of slot E that addition to the number 99 has been carried on and that the machine is at rest, because of the fact that the pin A bears against the lower end of slot D and is mounted in the registering holes of the counting-wheel, as shown by dotted lines,

Fig. 2. If it be desired to add a column of figures to the 99 already added-say, for instance, 6 3 7 9the operator inserts a second pin B in the counting-wheel holes registering with the figure 6 adjacent to said slot and immediately thereafter withdraws pin A, this action being instantly followed by the rotation of the counting-wheel until the pin B arrests its movement by: striking against the lower end of the slot,l and in this connection it will be understood that during this operation as the hundred-1' mark has been passed cam Y by outward. pressure against the foremost tooth of the? movable indicator forces the same outward one notch and leaves its pointer opposite thei adjacent numeral 1, therefore indicating that the numbers added amounted to one hundred plus the number appearing at the outer end of the slot E, which in this case would be 105. The operator then takes pin A and slips it quickly into the countingwheel hole opposite the numeral 3 and withdraws pin B, permitting the wheel to automatically add three to the previous total. He then inserts pin 13 into the hole opposite numeral 7 and withdraws pin A to permit seven to be added, then inserts pin A in the hole opposite numeral 9 and withdraws pin B, permitting the machine to add nine to the amount, making a total of one hundred and twenty-four. It will thus be seen that the calculator manipulates the machine simply by inserting and withdrawing pins through the slot and registering holes of the counting-wheehwhich operation can be performed to the best advantage with one hand, leaving his other hand to be used in following the numbersin the column to be added.

The spring will be of sufficient capacity to revolve the counting-wheel a great many times before rewinding is necessary, and in order that the latter may be accomplished in the quickest and easiest way the shaft is provided with the hand-wheel. If it is undesirable that the counting-wheel shall move during this operation, it would be advisable to hold the same stationary by inserting one of the pins in the hole registering with the In the practical operationthe resistance between the ratchet-wheel and the springactuated pawl is much greater than the resistance in the hearings to rotatable operation of the shaft. Consequently the latter always turns with the counting-wheel, except when the spring is being rewound.

The machine herein shown is adapted for counting up to nine hundred and ninety-nine, after which the traveling indicator is slid back to its original position-the 0 mark.

I contemplate making machines of diderent capacity-in fact, providing machines whereby numbers in several denominations may be added with each manipulation of the pin, which must of course be adapted to reg= ister thousands or multiples thereof where this machine registers hundreds.

From the above description. it will be apparent that I'have produced an adding-machine which because of the automatic opera tion of the counting-wheel relieves the oper ator of a great deal of unnecessary labor and results in a great economy of time, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be un derstood that it is susceptible of various changes as regards its form, proportion, detail construction, and organization without ficing any of the advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an adding-machine, a case provided with a segmental slot, and a contiguous col umn of figures, numbered consecutively from 1 upward, a counting wheel journaled therein, and provided with a circular series of equidistant perforations in the circular plane of said slot, means to rotate said counting-wheel, and a removable pin to engage one of the holes registering with said slot to limit the movement of the wheel by contact with the end of said slot, substantially as described.

2. In an adding-machine, a case provided with a segmental slot, and a contiguous column of figures, numbered consecutively from 1 upward, and with a slot to expose the totals, a counting-wheel journaled therein, and provided with a circular series of equidistant perforations in the circular plane of said slot, and with a parallel series of consecutive numbers to successively appear as totals through the slot mentioned for that purpose, means to rotate said counting-wheel, and a removable pin to engage one of the perforations registering with said segmental slot to limit the movement of the wheel by contact with the end of said slot, substantially as described.

3. In an adding-machine, a circular case having its top or face plate provided with a segmental slot, and a contiguous column of figures consecutively running from 1 upward, and a slot for exposing totals, a shaft journaled centrally of the case, a countingwheel journaled thereon and provided with a circular series of holes all of which are adapted to register with said slot, and with a circular series of numbers progressing consecutively from O upward, one opposite each hole and adapted to successively appear through the totalization-slot, a spring-actuated pawl carried by the counting-wheel, a ratchet-wheel keyed to the shaft and engaged by said pawl, and a spring within the casing for rotating the counting-wheel and secured at its opposite ends to the shaft and the case, substantially as described.

4. In an adding-machine, a circular case having its top or face plate provided with a segmental slot, and a contiguous column of figures consecutively running from 1 upwheel journaled thereon and provided with a circular series of holes all of which are adapted to register with said slot, and with a circular series of numbers progressing consecutively from 0 upward, one opposite each hole and adapted to successively appear through the totalization-slot, a springactuated pawl carried by the counting-wheel, a ratchet-wheel keyed to the shaft and engaged by said pawl, a traveling indicator, mounted in a radial slot and formed with a depending rack-bar, a cam carried by the counting-wheel to successively engage said rack-bar teeth, and impart one step to the traveling indicator with each revolution, and a spring within the case for rotating the counting-wheel and secured at its opposite ends to the shaft and the case, substantially as described.

5. In an adding-machine, a circular case having its top or face plate provided with a segmental slot, and a contiguous column of figures consecutively running from 1 upward, and a slot for exposing totals, a shaft journaled centrally of the case, a counting wheel journaled thereon and provided with a circular series of holes all of which are adapted to register with said slot, and with a circular series of numbers progressing consecutively from O upward, one opposite each hole and adapted to successively ap pear through the totalization-slot, a springactuated pawl carried by the counting-wheel, a ratchet-wheel keyed to the shaft and en gaged by said pawl, a traveling indicator, mounted in a radial slot and formed with a depending rack-bar, a cam carried by the counting-wheel to successively engage said rack-bar teeth and impart one step to the traveling indicator with each revolution, a concentric tail portion for the cam to limit the movement of the traveling indicator, and a spring within the case for rotating the counting-wheel and secured at its opposite ends to the shaft and case, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR R. BALL. lVitnesses:

S. S. ASHBY, Y. E. FARLEY. 

